Shipping container



Plll 15, 1929. H. R. CHANDLER SHIPPING CONTAINER Filed March 9. 1928 Patented Apr. ic, 1929.l

UNiTED STATES' PATENT oFF-ica.

HARRY n CHANDLER, or xENNE'rr SQUARE, PENNSYLVANIA, 4AsuiraNon. To THE u GLACIFER CORPORATION, OF KENNETT SQUARE,

. or DELAWARE A. sHrPPING CONTAINER.

` Application ma Haren 9,1928. seriai'No. 260,476.

This invention relates to certain improvements in shipping containers and the like, but more specifically tothe locking mecha-I nism for the covers or closures of such convention will\be readily recognized and understood by those skilled in the artin the light of the following explanations-and detailed descriptions of the accompanying drawings the preferred embodiments ordmechanical expressions of my invention from anion various other forms, arrangements, com inations, and constructions of which the invention is capable within the spirit and the scope In certain types of containers, and particularly those of the relatively large and heavy insulating types employed for transporting and shipping perishable goods and such like, it `is essential that the removable covers 0r closures for such containers tightly seal the same and insulate the interior and contents thereof from temperature exchange, yet these closures must be readily quickly removable and replaceable for practical use and operation. Hence, it is 'a .requirement with containers of this general type to provide a simple but strong and durable .arrangement of mechanism for securing and attaching a closure or cover in tightly seated sealing relation on and with the container, which mechanism can be quickly and readily operated torelease or detach a cover or closure, as well as to permit of quickly securing the same in 'container closing position,l and which Awill stand up under the conditions encountered in use. v l

In a form o-such cover or closure attaching mechanism in general use the cover carries a spring metal fastening pivotally mounted disposed diametrically across the cover and swingable to engage or disengage the structure of the. container at opposite sides of the cover, to secure and release the cover to and from closing position on the coutainer. In the handling of these containers in actual usethey are stacked or piled one upon another, and it is found from actual eX- perience that frequently in the operation ofstacking and unstacking the same, the bottom or lower end of a container when drawn or slid across v the cover closed top of the lower container fon which supported, will catch on and\engage with the pivoted cover fastening member on the lower container cover and Xswing or vrotate the same/to cover released 5 tainers; and the nature and ob]ects of the 1nnd opened position unsealin thecontainer. This is a serious condition as it will result in the spoilation or ruining'of. the perishable materials in a vcontainer if undetected and not immediately remedied by refastening and 10 'illustrating what I at present consider to be securing the'released cover in container closing andsealing position.

whereby lthe ysame is locked in .position against accidental displacement and cover or closure release, while retaining for the mechanism those desirable characteristics of ease and rapidity of cover attaching and release, with simplicity in construction and durability in use. r

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of certain. improvements in the mounting land attaching of the pivotal cover fastening member on the cover, andin the construction' of the container end structure engaged by such member whereby the locking thereof is obtained in a structurally simple and eiicient manner.

With the foregoing general objects, and certain otherobjects and results in view, which other objects and' results will be readily 'apparent from the following explanation, the invention consists in certain novel closed position by the mechanism of the in-l vention, the unlocked cover releasing position of the fastening member being shown in dotted lines.

Fig. 3, is a detail perspective view of' a portion of the container top or end rinor with the fastening member receiving slot'and locking lip or flange formed thereon.

Fig. 4, is a bottom plan view of the top or end ring with the fastener receiving slots and locking lips or anges thereon.

The invention is disclosed herewith as embodied in a container of the insulated shipping type, in which the several problemsA and difficulties overcome by the invention are met with in a high degree, so that this type of4 container serves to more clearly illustrate and bring forth the several -features of the invention; This form and type of container however is presented herewith by way of example only, as all features of the invention are not limited or restricted to use on or with such containers, but are applicable to other types and forms of contalners where similar conditions areencountered, or where such use may be found desirable or expedient.

The container here shown in Figs. l and 2, it being deemed necessary for the purposes of this application to more or less diagrammatically disclose only the upper end portion of the container, is of the insulated type employed for transporting and shipping perishable materials, and embodies the container body l0, in the present example of cylindrical form although the invention is not limited to any form or shape of container, comprising or including any suitable or desired non-conducting insulating material. .At the open upper end the container body 1ncludes the top or open end structure 1l providing the annular internal and depressed upwardly facing shoulder or seat l2 for receiving the cover or closure for the container.

This mouth or open upper end of the container is closed by any suitable cover or closure 20, in the present instance formed by any desired insulating material body or plug having an annular iange 2l provided by the top portion thereof, with the lower portion of the cover depending within the container and the fiange 21 seating on the shoulder 12 of the upper end structurell. Preferably, a suitable sealing ring, such as a rubber ring or gasket 21 vis provided disposed around cover 20 at the under side of flange 21 vfor engagement with and seating on shoulder or seat 12 of the container end structure 11, so as to tightly close and effectively seal the mouth end of the container with closure 20 secured and attached in closing` position therein. The foregoing is more or less diagrammatically shown in Fig. l of the accompanying drawings, and will be readily understood by reference thereto.'

For the purpose of tightly attaching-the' cover 20 in container closing position forced onto and held in sealing relation against the container end seat or shoulder 12, a fastening and locking member or bar 22, preferably 22 is mounted 011 the cover 2O by means of a pivot pin, such as the bolt 23 secured to and axially or centrally of the cover, with the bar swinoably or rotatably mounted thereon. In-accort ance with onefeature ot the present invention, the upper side of cover 20 has a metal or other suitable material covering o'r plate 24 secured thereon and thereto with a raised portion or boss 25 formed thereon having an aperture therethrough. This boss 25 forms a space between the covering or plate 24 and cover 20, within which the bolt head 23 is disposed with the bolt extended outwardly through the aperture thereof and a nut or the like 23 on the outer end thereof. The bolt head 23 can if desired be fixed and secured in position within boss 25 by the application 4of solder s, for example, within the boss around head 23 (see Fig. l). The spring* fastening bar 22 is loosely mounted on the outer end of bolt 23 for rotation thereon. and is retained in position thereon by nut 23, with the boss 25 forming a bearing surface for the bar.

The outer, opposite ends of the fastening bar are preferably elevated, as by bowing the bar, and are adapted to be engaged with structure at the adjacent sides ,of the upper end of the container. The invention provides structure for engagement by the bar 22, and in the example hereof, such structure takes the form of a metal, or other material end or mouth ring 30, angular in 'cross section, fitted on the upper end of container end structure 11 with its inturned horizontal fiange 31 fitting down on the end of structure l1, and 'with its cylindrical vertical flange 32 snugly and exteriorly fitting the. outer surface of the container. This ring 30 is attached and secured to the container 1n any suitable manner against displacement.

At diametrically opposite sides of the ring 30, the upper, horizontal fiange 31 thereof v formed at opposite ends of the respective diametrically opposite ring slots 33. The arrangement of slots 33 and recesses 34, is such that the fastening and locking bar is rotated to position with its opposite ends disposed Labove and alined with the ring slots 33, and

thereupon by bending or flexing the opposite bar ends downwardly through these slots 33 into recesses 34, the fastening bar can be ro-` In order to eliminate the possibility in the handling and use of these bontainers, of the fastening bars 22 thereof being accidentally or inadvertentl swuno' or displaced vfrom y h be resorted to without departmg from the secured position in recesses 3 3 under ring fianges 31, the invention provides for positively locking the bar ends 1n fastened position.

the recess 34 isextended under flange 31, has a portion of the flange bent downwardly to provide the depending projection or vlip 35 terminating and spaced a distance from the bottom of recess 34 to permit the end of fastening bar 22 when sufficiently depressed to pass freely thereunder into the recess beneath ring flange 31. Thus, when the fastenmg bar ends are swung into the recesses 33 past the lips 35 and are released, they spring upwardly againstV ring flange 31 and are locked against lateral orswinging lmovements outwardly to slots 33, by these locking lips or projections 35 which engage and arrest movement of the bar. removal the bar ends are depressed below lips f 35, and the bar 22 rotated with the ends below and alined with ring slots 33, respectively, whereupon release of the bar permits the ends to spring up through these slots'and allows the removal of cover 20 to open the container. While the form of the locking slots 33 and lips 35 here shown only provides the lips 35 and recesses 34 extendedl under the flange 31, at one and opposite ends, respectively, the invention contemplates and includes, where desired, the formation of the locking projections and recess extensions at both ends of each slot, in o rder to permit of movement of the bar 22 in either direction to lock the same and secure the cover 20 in closed position.-

The design, construction and arrangement of the cover with the securing and locking mechanism therefor, is simple, practical and eflicient, and eliminates and solves the dis-v advantages and difficulties encountered in attaching and removing the container covers and 1n providing for the efficient. closmg and sealing of the containers under all conditions4 of use and handling. The construction of mounting for the fastening bar 22 on the cover, with boss or elevated portion 25 of the cover plate 24, permits of properly positioning and locating the bar with respect to the locking slots and recesses in they container structure,`wl1ile allowing the positioning of the cover below the upper end of the container and ring 30. A further advantage is in the Referring now particularly to Fi gs. 3 and 4, the end of each ring slot 33 at which To release the cover 20 for.

elimination of the necessity of extending the pivot pin or bolt 22 into and through any portion of the body of the cover 20, and thus eliminate reduction in the insulating efficienc of this cover. The end ring Y30 of the meta angle form shown enables the provision by a single element in a practical manner, of

`both the locking slots and bar engaging lips or projections, with the ring providing the protection forthe end of the container.

It is also evident that various changes, variations, modifications, and substitutions might spirit and scope of ny invention, and hence I do not wish to limitmyself to the exact and specific disclosures hereof.

What I claim is: i

upper end thereof having adepressed internal cover recelving shoulder, a ring member of angular cross section on the upper end of mouth member beneath said-slots recessedl v1. In a container, a mouthmemberat the and extended at one end a distance under said flange, the recesses extended under the flange at the opposite end of each slot, respectively,

and a portion of the flange at the end of each slot beyond which said recess extends bentl downwardly to form a locking lip spaced a distance above the bottomv of the recess.

2. In a container, a ring member having a horizontally disposed ange vsecured over the upper end of the container, said flange having a slot therein open through the inner edge thereof, and a portion of the flange at one end of the slot bent downwardly to provide a locking lip for engaging a fastening member y carried by a cover.

3. In a container, a ring member secured over and around the upper end of the container, said ring member formed with a slot therein open through the inner edge thereof, the container end formed with a recess in the inner side thereof below said slot and extended at one end a distance under 'said ring member, the ring member formed at the end of the slot at which the recess is extended with a depending locking lip spaced adistance above the bottom of the recess, said lip adapted to engage a cover carried fastening member swung through said slot and moved inwardly of the recess under'said ring.

4. lIn a container, in combination, a ring seI cured at the upper end of the container having' a horizontally and inwardlyV disposed flange over'the upper edge of the container, a

cover receiving shoulder formed in the container below the upper. end, the said ring flange having diametrically opposite slotsv therein open through the inner edge theredownwardly to form a locking lip, said lips formed at opposite ends of said opposed slots, respectively, a cover seated on said container sl1oi1ldcr,and a fastening bar pvoted on said cover disposed diametrically thereacross with its ends extended beyond the cover and 1'c ccivcd in said ring slots, respectively, said fastening bar rotatable to swing the ends thereof under 'the locking lips beneath the ring flange in cover' attaching position locked against displacement by said lips.

5. In a container, in combination, the upper end of the container formed with an internal depressed cover receiving shoulder thcrey around, a ring angular in cross section secured around the upper end of the container -with the vertical flange thereof around the exterior of the container and the horizontal flange extending over and around the upper Aend edge of the container, said horizontal nal shoulder of the container with its upper side below said ring slots, an elevated inember on the upper side of the cover centrally thereof, and a spring material cover fastening bar pivotally mounted on said elevated member disposed diametrically of the cover with its ends extended beyond the cover, said bar depressible to lower the ends thereof through said ring slots for movement into said recesses below the ring flange locked rgainst lateral displacement byv said locking ips. l

6. In a container of the insulating type, a cover for the containercomprising a body of `insulating material, a plate member fixed on the upper side of said cover, an elevated boss formed in said plate centrally of the cover,a headed pivot member extending outwardly through said boss with the head of the member disposed between the boss and cover, a cover fastening bar rotatably mounted on said pivot member and supported on said boss, said fastening bar disposed diametricallyacross the cover, and means at opposite sides of the container for locking engagement by said bar to releasably fasten the cover in closed position on the container.

Signed at Kennett Square, county of Chester, State of Pennsylvania, this 12th day of December, 1927.

HARRY R. CHANDLER. 

